Burlington announces child care scholarship program

March 1, 2019

BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — City leaders in Burlington say they have created a scholarship program to help place over 20 low-income children into high quality child care programs.

The “First Steps Scholarship Program” builds off of the city’s Early Learning Initiative, which helped increase the amount of spaces available at child care facilities across the city. Democratic Mayor Miro Weinberger says the program aims to fill the gap between the number of children in the Burlington community and spots for high-quality child care.

To qualify, you must have a family income at or less than 65 percent of the area median income —around $60,000 a year for a Burlington-area family of four.

City officials say the program will not burden taxpayers and won’t increase operating costs.